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Seven-foot, eight-inch tall, Igor Vovkovinskiy, the self proclaimed biggest supporter of President Barack Obama, takes a photo with cheerleaders from the Cannon Falls high school prior to a town hall event at Lower Hannah's Bend Park, in Cannon Falls, Minn., Monday, Aug. 15, 2011. The President is on a three-day Midwestern bus tour. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

ST. PAUL -- Bright sunshine and 500 Minnesotans stood ready to greet President Barack Obama for a mid-day "town hall" meeting in a park today, the first stop on what many political observers say is his first re-election campaign swing.

Don Davis has been the Forum Communications Minnesota Capitol Bureau chief since 2001, covering state government and politics for two dozen newspapers in the state. Don also blogs at Capital Chatter on Areavoices.